عبس
Surah ‘Abasa
He Frowned · Surah 80 · Meccan · 42 verses
1عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ ١He frowned and turned away.InsightElmalılı explains “‘abasa” as the face tightening from displeasure, a frowning look. This surah is a gentle divine correction, even to the Prophet.2أَن جَآءَهُ ٱلۡأَعۡمَىٰ ٢Because the blind man came unto him.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the mention of “blind” shows his excuse and that he needed not to be turned from, but attended to and guided.3وَمَا يُدۡرِيكَ لَعَلَّهُۥ يَزَّكَّىٰٓ ٣What could inform thee but that he might grow (in grace).InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the blind man deserved attention simply for being blind; and besides, perhaps he would be purified of his sins.4أَوۡ يَذَّكَّرُ فَتَنفَعَهُ ٱلذِّكۡرَىٰٓ ٤Or take heed and so the reminder might avail him.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, even if he could not be purified at once, taking advice again and again would benefit him.5أَمَّا مَنِ ٱسۡتَغۡنَىٰ ٥As for him who thinketh himself independent.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is one who thinks he needs neither faith nor advice, does not want to learn, or is a man of wealth.6فَأَنتَ لَهُۥ تَصَدَّىٰ ٦Unto him thou payest regard.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is paying him attention and trying to guide and reform him.7وَمَا عَلَيۡكَ أَلَّا يَزَّكَّىٰ ٧Yet it is not thy concern if he grow not (in grace).InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the Prophet bears no responsibility if the self-sufficient one who does not want to benefit from the Qur’an is not purified. The duty is to convey.8وَأَمَّا مَن جَآءَكَ يَسۡعَىٰ ٨But as for him who cometh unto thee with earnest purpose.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is one who came eagerly, seeking the knowledge and guidance the Prophet had.9وَهُوَ يَخۡشَىٰ ٩And hath fear.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the blind man came in fear and reverence of Allah, worried that he might err or fall into sin.10فَأَنتَ عَنۡهُ تَلَهَّىٰ ١٠From him thou art distracted.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, though his eyes did not see, his ears and heart were open; not attending to such a seeker is failing to value him.11كَلَّآ إِنَّهَا تَذۡكِرَةࣱ ١١Nay, but verily it is an Admonishment.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this “No!” means “do not do so”: do not neglect the eager seeker and turn to the self-sufficient. The Qur’an is a reminder for all.12فَمَن شَآءَ ذَكَرَهُۥ ١٢So let whosoever will pay heed to it.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the benefit and harm return to the person himself; whoever wills may reflect and take heed.13فِي صُحُفࣲ مُّكَرَّمَةࣲ ١٣On honoured leaves.InsightElmalılı says “suhuf” means pages, a leaf written or to be written on.14مَّرۡفُوعَةࣲ مُّطَهَّرَةِۭ ١٤Exalted, purified.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, because of its high worth, copies of the Qur’an should be placed in high, respected places and held above the waist when read.15بِأَيۡدِي سَفَرَةࣲ ١٥(Set down) by scribes.InsightElmalılı explains “safarah” as scribes, the angels who write and carry the revelation.16كِرَامِۭ بَرَرَةࣲ ١٦Noble and righteous.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, these scribes are honoured and esteemed with Allah and devoted to good.17قُتِلَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ مَآ أَكۡفَرَهُۥ ١٧Man is (self-)destroyed: how ungrateful.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is an expression of anger and censure, like “perish!”: man is in such a bad state that he hardly deserves his life.18مِنۡ أَيِّ شَيۡءٍ خَلَقَهُۥ ١٨From what thing doth He create him.19مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ خَلَقَهُۥ فَقَدَّرَهُۥ ١٩From a drop of seed. He createth him and proportioneth him.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, Allah created man from a drop and passed him through many stages, from the first form to birth, setting him in the finest shape.20ثُمَّ ٱلسَّبِيلَ يَسَّرَهُۥ ٢٠Then maketh the way easy for him.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this covers all the stages from birth to the maturing of his mind and thought.21ثُمَّ أَمَاتَهُۥ فَأَقۡبَرَهُۥ ٢١Then causeth him to die, and burieth him.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, Allah commanded that the dead be buried and not left exposed; He made man honoured alive and dead. This too is a blessing.22ثُمَّ إِذَا شَآءَ أَنشَرَهُۥ ٢٢Then, when He will, He bringeth him again to life.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, Allah will not leave him in the grave as he is; when He wills He will raise him and bring him before Him.23كَلَّا لَمَّا يَقۡضِ مَآ أَمَرَهُۥ ٢٣Nay, but (man) hath not done what He commanded him.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, most commentators take “kalla” here as “truly”: man has not fully fulfilled the gratitude and worship Allah commanded.24فَلۡيَنظُرِ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ إِلَىٰ طَعَامِهِۦٓ ٢٤Let man consider his food.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, man should look at how the food he eats is grown step by step through power and wisdom.25أَنَّا صَبَبۡنَا ٱلۡمَآءَ صَبࣰّا ٢٥How We pour water in showers.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the first cause of food growing on earth is water, and that is first of all a gift of Allah.26ثُمَّ شَقَقۡنَا ٱلۡأَرۡضَ شَقࣰّا ٢٦Then split the earth in clefts.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the dull, dry earth stirs and swells with rain, then cracks and brings forth plants. This is a wondrous creation.27فَأَنۢبَتۡنَا فِيهَا حَبࣰّا ٢٧And cause the grain to grow therein.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, it is Allah who makes grain grow in the earth.28وَعِنَبࣰا وَقَضۡبࣰا ٢٨And grapes and green fodder.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, human effort in ploughing and tending vines has value; but it is Allah who grows these grains and grapes in that dark soil.29وَزَيۡتُونࣰا وَنَخۡلࣰا ٢٩And olive-trees and palm-trees.30وَحَدَآئِقَ غُلۡبࣰا ٣٠And garden-closes of thick foliage.InsightElmalılı explains “ghulb” as gardens with large trees intertwined.31وَفَٰكِهَةࣰ وَأَبࣰّا ٣١And fruits and grasses.InsightElmalılı says “abb” means meadow, pasture, fodder and herbage: prepared for both people and animals.32مَّتَٰعࣰا لَّكُمۡ وَلِأَنۡعَٰمِكُمۡ ٣٢Provision for you and your cattle.33فَإِذَا جَآءَتِ ٱلصَّآخَّةُ ٣٣But when the Shout cometh.InsightElmalılı explains “as-sakhkhah” as a great calamity, the name of the second blowing of the Trumpet at the Hour.34يَوۡمَ يَفِرُّ ٱلۡمَرۡءُ مِنۡ أَخِيهِ ٣٤On the day when a man fleeth from his brother.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this fleeing conveys the severity of that day: one flees even from a brother, the closest helper.35وَأُمِّهِۦ وَأَبِيهِ ٣٥And his mother and his father.36وَصَٰحِبَتِهِۦ وَبَنِيهِ ٣٦And his wife and his children.InsightElmalılı sees an escalation: starting from the brother, the fleeing grows with the degree of closeness and love; parents, spouse and children are the most beloved.37لِكُلِّ ٱمۡرِيࣲٕ مِّنۡهُمۡ يَوۡمَئِذࣲ شَأۡنࣱ يُغۡنِيهِ ٣٧Every man that day will have concern enough to make him heedless (of others).InsightAccording to Elmalılı, everyone will have a matter so pressing that there will be no room to think of or help anyone else.38وُجُوهࣱ يَوۡمَئِذࣲ مُّسۡفِرَةࣱ ٣٨On that day faces will be bright as dawn.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, these are the faces of those who obeyed Allah with reverence, faith and Islam, shining like the light of morning.39ضَاحِكَةࣱ مُّسۡتَبۡشِرَةࣱ ٣٩Laughing, rejoicing at good news.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, they laugh because they have been saved from the reckoning, and rejoice because they will attain mercy and the sight of Allah.40وَوُجُوهࣱ يَوۡمَئِذٍ عَلَيۡهَا غَبَرَةࣱ ٤٠And other faces, on that day, with dust upon them.41تَرۡهَقُهَا قَتَرَةٌ ٤١Veiled in darkness.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, dust and darkness together on faces are the most terrible sight of fear, humiliation, pain and punishment.42أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡكَفَرَةُ ٱلۡفَجَرَةُ ٤٢Those are the disbelievers, the wicked.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, they combined disbelief with wickedness, so Allah blackened their faces in dust.